Why Virtual Holiday Parties Are Here to Stay
It started as a necessity - a way to stay connected when offices closed and teams went remote. But five years later, the virtual holiday party isn’t just a temporary fix. It’s become a mainstay of modern workplace culture - and for good reason.
Even as hybrid and in-person celebrations return, companies large and small continue to host virtual or partially virtual holiday events. Why? Because they’re inclusive, scalable, cost-effective, and surprisingly fun when done right.
Here’s why virtual holiday parties aren’t going anywhere anytime soon - and how forward-thinking teams are using them to redefine how they celebrate together.
💻 1. The Workforce Is Hybrid - And It’s Staying That Way
According to Gallup, over half of U.S. employees now work in hybrid or remote arrangements. Even if you’ve been part of a ‘return to office’ campaign, chances are people on your team are in another office anyway. That means the “office holiday party” can no longer happen in one physical space.
Virtual and hybrid celebrations offer a way to bring everyone together - no matter where they live. Whether your team is spread across three states or three time zones, a virtual event ensures no one is left out of the fun.
💬 Inclusivity has become the new currency of culture - and virtual celebrations make that possible.
💸 2. They’re Cost-Effective (Without Feeling Cheap)
Traditional office parties can quickly rack up costs: venue rentals, catering, transportation, decorations, and more. A virtual holiday party, on the other hand, can deliver just as much laughter and bonding - at a fraction of the budget.
Platforms like White Elephant Online let teams celebrate for under the cost of a single catered lunch. Even more robust virtual event platforms (like Gather or Zoom Events) offer pricing that scales with your team size.
💡 For HR leaders managing budgets, that’s a win-win: meaningful connection, without logistical headaches.
🙌 3. Virtual Celebrations Are More Inclusive
Virtual parties help eliminate barriers that sometimes exist with in-person events - such as accessibility concerns, travel costs, childcare needs, or social pressure.
In a virtual setting, employees can join from wherever they’re comfortable - whether it’s their home-office or their couch. They can choose their level of engagement and still feel part of the team.
🎁 That sense of flexibility is one reason employees rate virtual events higher for comfort and participation.
🕹 4. The Tech Has Caught Up - and It’s Actually Fun Now
Early virtual parties were clunky - endless Zoom calls and awkward icebreakers. But now? The landscape is completely different.
Platforms like:
White Elephant Online - virtual gift exchanges
QuizBreaker - trivia and icebreakers
Gather - virtual venues and game spaces
Escapely - digital escape rooms
…have turned virtual events into experiences. Today’s tools are interactive, visual, and social - the opposite of those early “mandatory fun” calls.
🤝 5. They Strengthen Company Culture Year-Round
While holiday parties are the most common use case, virtual celebrations have evolved into an ongoing engagement tool. Many organizations now host:
Quarterly “mini parties” or virtual happy hours
Employee milestone celebrations
Company-wide “gratitude” or recognition events
💬 The result: consistent connection that doesn’t rely on one big annual moment.
🌎 6. They Support a Global Workforce
For distributed or international companies, virtual events are often the only realistic way to celebrate as one team. Employees from Los Angeles to London can join the same event, share laughter, and feel part of a shared culture.
Forward-thinking organizations are embracing this as a cultural advantage - a way to unite global teams under one shared experience, even across time zones.
🌟 7. Virtual Parties Offer New Levels of Creativity
From “Holiday Around the World” themes to online escape rooms and gift exchanges, virtual parties have inspired creativity that traditional events can’t always match. Teams can use multimedia, live polling, or virtual backgrounds to make each celebration unique.
💡 It’s not about replacing in-person connection - it’s about expanding how we connect.
🎁 White Elephant Online: The Easiest Way to Celebrate Virtually
If you want a virtual or hybrid event that’s fun, social, and is a breeze to setup, White Elephant Online is the easiest way to bring your team together - whether it’s the holidays or any celebration in between.
You can:
Set up a game in minutes
Invite your team with a single link
Watch the gift-stealing fun unfold in real time
📈 The Future of Company Celebrations Is Hybrid
The best workplace experiences now blend in-person and online elements - and holiday parties are no exception. Some companies host small local gatherings while connecting virtually for a shared activity like a White Elephant exchange, virtual toast, or holiday trivia challenge.
The takeaway? The companies that thrive in the next decade will be the ones that treat connection as an ongoing practice - not a once-a-year event.